tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67344356023406799842018-01-08T10:04:08.002-08:00Female Students NetworkFEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-87230735785469100462016-02-03T05:27:00.000-08:002016-02-03T05:33:32.751-08:00Marching to end child marriage in Zimbabwe<h3><i style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">As Female Student Network, we believe that education is a right, and that girls must get the same opportunities as boys to fulfill their dreams. Unfortunately, child marriages are a big menace to young girls academic dreams and the rights of the girl child.</span></i></h3><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KLh9_JWPiXM/VrH9pn8S0NI/AAAAAAAAAII/G1Lmrteq3BA/s1600/DSC01408%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KLh9_JWPiXM/VrH9pn8S0NI/AAAAAAAAAII/G1Lmrteq3BA/s320/DSC01408%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US">The Constitutional Court on the 20<sup>th</sup> of January made a landmark ruling stating that child marriages are unconstitutional. Today we were celebrating this ruling in a joint march by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, students from various secondary, higher and tertiary institutions, Churches and women’s organizations. We are happy to see that such a broad coalition fighting such a patriarchal oppression of our girls. Its now crucial that we use this momentum to make sure that this law is now implemented and that communities around the country are educated on the matter.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jKlii_rpmmc/VrH-OUuC-4I/AAAAAAAAAIU/UbnO9YPPCko/s1600/DSC01391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jKlii_rpmmc/VrH-OUuC-4I/AAAAAAAAAIU/UbnO9YPPCko/s320/DSC01391.JPG" width="240" /></a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<b style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US">Poverty is the problem, not culture</span></b><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US">Some people argue that marrying off young girls is in our tradition. However, the rise in child marriages in the last year is a clear example that its not culture, but poverty that is the driving force. If we look around the globe, we see that child marriages are a problem in the poorest countries. In our country, we can also note that Hurungwe. an area that has been hard hit by poverty, also has very high rates of teenage pregnancy. According to a study which was done by Ministry of Health and Child Care with support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), almost half of the 19 year old girls in this area had been through a pregnancy. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US">Its time to empower women and girls</span></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X3rlkfTfRGY/VrH9dewP_FI/AAAAAAAAAIM/yUnrhLYNhGY/s1600/12666242_10153783444516886_1319361894_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X3rlkfTfRGY/VrH9dewP_FI/AAAAAAAAAIM/yUnrhLYNhGY/s320/12666242_10153783444516886_1319361894_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US">A court ruling is a good start, but we now need to do the hard work. As female students, we are dedicated to educate our peers and our communities about the ban of child marriages in our country. We also want to work hard to make sure that girls stay in school, and are not given away in exchange of a bag of rice. Fighting poverty and working for girls right to an education hence go hand in hand. Girls don’t want a husband, they want books.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sIvTIZIWgBo/VrH-Fgia85I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/sE7eEMX__pU/s1600/DSC01447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="465" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sIvTIZIWgBo/VrH-Fgia85I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/sE7eEMX__pU/s640/DSC01447.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-9047762555576779372016-01-25T05:47:00.002-08:002016-01-25T05:47:40.083-08:00<h2><span lang="EN-US"><b><span style="color: orange;">Orange day</span></b></span></h2><div class="MsoNormal">FSNT would like to commemorate the <a href="http://www.un.org/en/women/endviolence/orangeday.shtml" target="_blank">orange day</a>!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The orange day is part of a campaign started by UNiTE to put focus on Gender based violence and to ensure that violence against women is at the top of national and global agendas. The Orange day is a day to raise awareness and prevent violence against women and girls, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">using the color orange to symbolize a brighter future without violence</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #595a5c; font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #595a5c; font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">According to <a href="http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/women-and-the-sdgs/sdg-5-gender-equality" target="_blank">UNwomen</a> a staggering one in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Violence can negatively affect women’s physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health, and may increase vulnerability to HIV</span>.<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">In September 2015, a new global agenda was created; the Sustainable Development Goals, which takes over from the MDGs. The SDG is a set of 17 global goals that applies to all countries and will guide policy and action. These goals makes gender equality and women’s empowerment a key priority and includes specific targets to end violence against women and girls.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/women-and-the-sdgs/sdg-5-gender-equality#sthash.DejY3IZR.dpuf" target="_blank">SDG 5</a> is to <i><b>“Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls"</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Some of the targets includes</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.</span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; text-indent: -18pt;">Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation</span></span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="line-height: 14.98px;">Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decisionmaking in political, economic and public life</span></span></span></li><li><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="line-height: 14.98px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;">Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels</span></span></span></span></li></ul><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #595a5c; font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">-</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #595a5c;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">&nbsp; &nbsp; </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">The SDGs correlates with the work of </span><span lang="EN-US">Female Student network Trust.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We work to empower female students through capacity building and leadership trainings. We think that female students have the same capabilities as their male counterparts. We want to see more females as leaders of student unions and SRCs. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We also work for the implementation of Sexual Harassement policies at TEI’s.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">In 2015 we conducted a national baseline survey on Sexual Harrasement in Zimbabwes tertiary institutions.&nbsp;</span>The research was done in 21 institutions across the country. Only 4 out of 21 institutions had sexual harassment policies in place!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The findings reveal that SH is very rampant in TEIs. Many female studenst reportet to have encountered Sexual Harassment in different forms, like unwanted and uninvited physical contact (touching, patting, hugging), inappropriate remarks, wolf whistling and offers of favors, unwanted unprotected sex and even rape. The perpetrators are mostly male students, male lecturers and non-academic staff at campus. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Findings suggest that many female students fail to live their college lives fully, making life style adjustments because of fear of SH in their living and learning environments. Many avoids participation in SRC and other institutions because of fear of being victimized and harassed by fellow students.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Absence of SH policies means there are limited gender sensitive formal frameworks for use in interventions aimed at creating a violence and harassment-free learning environment for male and in particular female students. Having a SH policy will make it easier for students to report issues relating to SH and will contribute to creating a safe learning environment for students.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Men and boys also have a responsibility and a role to play as agents of social and cultural change, and in speaking out against violence against women and girls. FSNT encourages male (and female) students to be supporting towards your fellow female students in order to create equal opportunities for participation for leadership positions and decitionmaking processes.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">In 2016 FSNT is committed to continue our work for the empowerment of female students and to work towards all institutions implementing a sexual harassment policy!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">HAPPY ORANGE DAY</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjdBSyatsXM/VqYmD_gNKcI/AAAAAAAAAGw/JU51ReSGdA0/s1600/IMG-20160125-WA0007.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjdBSyatsXM/VqYmD_gNKcI/AAAAAAAAAGw/JU51ReSGdA0/s320/IMG-20160125-WA0007.jpg" width="320" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-37ccoERxyGE/VqYnU0cuVCI/AAAAAAAAAG8/Tw77igz7haQ/s1600/IMG-20160125-WA0006.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-37ccoERxyGE/VqYnU0cuVCI/AAAAAAAAAG8/Tw77igz7haQ/s320/IMG-20160125-WA0006.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">#Orangeday #VAW #orangetheworld #female students #16days #endVAW #GBV<o:p></o:p></span></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-46263073283336593732015-11-23T02:19:00.000-08:002015-11-23T02:20:21.151-08:00Female Student Network (FSN) strongly condemns the brutality of the police towards female students<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Friday 13.november 22 female students were beaten and arrested by police.&nbsp;</span><br /><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NSEyGwdK7tA/VlLjVLStKgI/AAAAAAAAAGE/dz5Akzr24-s/s1600/12233299_10156206443375261_210777592_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NSEyGwdK7tA/VlLjVLStKgI/AAAAAAAAAGE/dz5Akzr24-s/s320/12233299_10156206443375261_210777592_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They were demonstrating against the violations of their academic freedom, and voicing out their concerns about the high tuition and accommodation fees at their respective institutions. The scenario took place in central business district in Harare were students were marching from Rezende Street towards the Parliament to present their petition.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">22 female students were arrested; six was released the same day, while 16 remained in arrest overnight and released on Saturday afternoon.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3aH2njNmYog/VlLjVoQfAHI/AAAAAAAAAGI/RSycBEyqcTA/s1600/12243726_10156206442510261_636599401_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3aH2njNmYog/VlLjVoQfAHI/AAAAAAAAAGI/RSycBEyqcTA/s320/12243726_10156206442510261_636599401_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As an organisation that advocates for the active representation and participation of female students in tertiary institutional politics, FSN is greatly disturbed by these arrests.&nbsp;</span><br /><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Network has previously been receiving reports from female students who withdrew from contesting in student representative council (SRC) elections because of risk and fear of being beaten up or arrested.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">FSN strongly believes these arrests and the&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">violence used are some of the root causes and hindrances to female students full participation in student politics and generally in the democratic process.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4aGfRwjPjvQ/VlLjV9QKWmI/AAAAAAAAAGM/Vgot5ySy3Ok/s1600/12273094_10156206442275261_1169512580_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4aGfRwjPjvQ/VlLjV9QKWmI/AAAAAAAAAGM/Vgot5ySy3Ok/s320/12273094_10156206442275261_1169512580_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Therefore FSN urges the government to respect human rights and allow students to demonstrate for their academic freedoms as this is not attached to political affairs, but student grievances towards their academic education. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-ZW" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">FSN will always fight for academic freedom for female students in solidarity with other student movements. This will increase their participation in student leadership without fear of being arrested.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-9977345140802016062015-10-29T06:14:00.002-07:002015-10-29T06:17:22.691-07:00FOR HOW LONG ZIMBABWEAN STUDENTS?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:RelyOnVML/> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>NO-BOK</w:LidThemeOther> 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QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:NO-BOK; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">&nbsp;By Patience Malunga</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The fees must fall campaign in South Africa eventually led to a non-increment to the tuition fees. Well done South Africa student community! However, I am bitterly bleeding and asking myself when the circumstances of Zimbabwean students will change.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Most of us students in tertiary institutions are relying on a payment plan because our parents cannot afford the exorbitant tuition fees .My question is for how long are you going to use a payment plan that you cannot even afford to pay on time to access your education ?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Right now you are almost concluding a semester but the surprising thing is you do not even know if you passed the previous semester examinations because your results are withheld, you have not cleared last semester’s fees. Is this how things should be?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Most of us have graduated and still we do not have our original transcripts and certificates because we are owing the cadetship scheme which the government was supposed to pay, but instead its now our personal obligation to pay the bill. My question, is for how long Zimbabwean students?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Most of us are paying tertiary tuition which is above 600 US dollars yet our parents still earn below the poverty datum line. Is this not a wakeup call?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Needless to speak about the power cuts that affect our reading, the water shortages that affect our health, the exorbitant rentals etc.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When the French revolution broke out some historians said it was because of the winds of change blowing across Europe. Is this not a wind of change blowing across the student community in Southern Africa? Education must be accessible #FEESMUSTFALL.</span></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-31473968512233529492015-01-28T02:49:00.000-08:002015-01-28T02:49:33.000-08:00Female students in tertiary institutions face myriad problems<div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By Yvonne Mufute (Midlands State University) <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">n most tertiary institutions, female students are more vulnerable as compared to the male students. Young women are affected due to welfare, abusive lecturers, abuse among students and peer pressure.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Female students are at higher risk in institutions such as Midlands State University, Great Zimbabwe University and Chinhoyi University of Technology. The welfare of female students is being affected and as a result some are forced to live the life they do not want.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">&nbsp;When we talk of welfare, these are issues related to accommodation, availability of food, conducive learning environment, in short the wellbeing of students.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Most students engage in temporary marriages that will last for 3-4 months. A temporary marriage is where by boys and girls stay together as husband and wife and at the end of semester they separate without the knowledge of their parents.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is caused by high rentals for instance in places like Senga –Nehosho in Gweru, Morningside in Masvingo students pay full rentals $70-90 per head and they will be staying&nbsp; 3-4 pupils&nbsp; in a room.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s so expensive as a result students choose to engage in those temporary marriages and some cohabit with others so to share responsibilities and save money for groceries and other necessities.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Due to peer pressure some female students get into contractual relationships with older men in order to carter for their needs and wants like clothes, food and other necessities.<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the other side male landlords demand sex from female students for them not to pay their rentals.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you reject they will be on your neck giving one a hard time for instance raising rentals, locking the gate before 7pm when others will be in school by that time.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Usually girls cannot negotiate for safe sex since they will be in need for money above all as a mere beneficiary in the relationship.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sexual Transmitted Diseases and HIV have become so common on campus to an extent that campus clinics now provide ARVs and medication for STIs.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In some tertiary institutions, female students are forced to have sexual relationships with their lecturers due to financial problems and eagerness to obtain distinctions in their academics.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lecturers demand sexual favors from female students for them to pass their course and as they go for attachment the bosses will be on their neck demanding sex. Female students are affected in so many ways,<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> hence a lot has to be done to ensure their protection and to guide them so that they make the right decisions for their future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-21512886987598982032015-01-28T01:55:00.001-08:002015-01-28T01:58:05.172-08:00A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS<div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;By Linda Kazembe (Midlands State University)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The room was so silent<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sorrow overshadowed me<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I knew I was not alone<o:p></o:p></span><span style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Tip top went the sound behind me &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My heart raced <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Alone in a dark world of shattered dreams <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A little hopeless girl<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With a beast as a father<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As the sun set so did my heart faint<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No dreams for a brighter future<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The sound was as fast as the drum beats<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was so rough as always<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My face became his punching bag<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cf4vgwJS_2k/VMixyo92xqI/AAAAAAAAAFg/WahiLUNxJQg/s1600/stop%2Bviolence.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cf4vgwJS_2k/VMixyo92xqI/AAAAAAAAAFg/WahiLUNxJQg/s1600/stop%2Bviolence.png" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tattoos became my cover page<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My painter was my father<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blood stains all over <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pain eats me alive<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As I was about to surrender<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The voice came again<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Like an angel from above<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Out of darkness</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Led me into the light<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gave me a shoulder to lean on<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A cloth to wipe away all the pain<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Restored my strength <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The chirping birds<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The wind<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whispered words of motivation <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I became a voice for the voiceless <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pain made me stronger<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The time had come<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For the first time NO<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Changed my life<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was free <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Stand up and fight for your rights<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Have the courage to say NO!<o:p></o:p></span></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-63184363264016862012015-01-28T01:05:00.001-08:002015-01-28T01:05:10.527-08:00BITTER IS HER BATTLE AND BETTER IS HER VICTORY!!!!<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>By<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Patience Malunga</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Created from the rib of man meant her position was right beside and never in merciless irony hands.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She dreads to fight because of fear <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 49.5pt; tab-stops: 6.0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Her voice goes mute whenever she wants to scream<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Voiceless are her cries and broken is her smile <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A stranger to peace and a commoner to tears pain and sorrow <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Darkness has failed to give her solace neither her tears able to moisturize the dryness on her face <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In labor she travails to bring forth another human being to life <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite the pains and the turmoil of labor she gladly embraces her new one <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">&nbsp;Routine of breastfeeding, diaper changing and sleepless nights follows<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She does this in the name of love to a man whose love is miles away<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This man has nothing to offer but a bitter pill of anger, rage and hatred <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">His music is full of torture as his words are never positive <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But strongly she lives and fights for the cause of her children<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She wears the victor’s crown <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A hero whose song is never sang ………………..<span style="color: magenta;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-57160148512543507682014-08-15T02:55:00.001-07:002014-08-15T02:55:31.529-07:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FSN celebrates International Youth Day<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As the world commemorates International Youth Day, Female Students Network (FSN) cherishes the strides made to ensure that young people of today become active participants of their destiny on the political, social and economic spheres of their communities. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Youths are the future leaders of tomorrow, but it’s sad however to note that their voices often go unheard.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For our country to move forward to a brighter future, youth voices need to be amplified, their concerns heard because they are the ones holding the country’s future.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hearing out what the youths are saying is essential for designing specific interventions that address their unique vulnerabilities and enable them to realize their hopes and aspirations. Therefore there is need to create platforms where youth can participate and share knowledge and ideas on how they can be active citizens who can able to contribute effectively to their personal development and that of the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is also need to increase the capacity of young women in decision making positions, starting from within families going up to national level so as to reinforce gender equality.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Most young people, particularly the most vulnerable, lack knowledge of how to participate in relevant networks. As we celebrate this day however, there is need to look at the challenges that the young people of today are still facing, unemployment being the major one so that they can be rectified.</span><span style="background: black; border: 1pt none black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 0pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0cm;"> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The failure by governments across the globe, including Zimbabwe to guarantee the eradication of all challenges that result in young women not being afforded the same opportunities as young men dropping out of school is against human freedoms and we condemn such in the strongest sense.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FSN therefore urges the government and development partners to effectively engage young people in developing national planning strategies and policies so that they can be given an opportunity to actively participate in all national processes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">An increased commitment among young people, youth-led organizations and greater political will of decision makers at all levels are needed for meaningful youth participation in development policy planning. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Promoting awareness among young people and enabling their full engagement in mitigation centred initiatives can facilitate their experience and enable them to so assume ownership of their contribution to development.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JmhvohJwos/U-3Y49LY1gI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/3vBdC-1CFDw/s1600/International.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2JmhvohJwos/U-3Y49LY1gI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/3vBdC-1CFDw/s1600/International.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-35959088836036441592014-05-15T02:57:00.004-07:002014-05-15T02:57:56.202-07:00FSN Condems ZINASU/ZICOSU rivalry <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Female Students Network (FSN) would like to express its displeasure in the continued rivalry between the two leading students’ movements in the country, Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) and Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU).<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We have a strong belief that the rivalry which sometimes turns nasty is the root cause of why female students are shunning student leadership. FSN condemns in the strongest sense the polarisation of student movement along political parties as we believe that student’s movements are meant to impress the plight of students. We consider that the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>plight of students is the same, hence there is no reason why the two organisations should be at each other’ s throats as opposed to forging a united front in improving the learning conditions for students.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Network understands that the rivalry between ZINASU and ZICOSU is an extension of the polarisation of the political situation in Zimbabwe where some political parties are now using the student bodies to further their ambitions at the expense of the students’ plight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As an organisation that advocates for equal participation between female and male students in institutional politics, FSN is greatly disturbed by these clashes as they hinder the Network’s cause. The Network has been receiving reports from female students who withdraw from contesting in SRC elections because of intimidation and fear of being caught up in the clashes between ZICOSU and ZINASU. These clashes do not provide a level ground for the maximum participation of female students.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Furthermore, FSN believes a united and focused student movement will deliver the much needed improvement of educational standards and student politics which we all aim to achieve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When we call for unity we are not saying ZINASU and ZICOSU should merge, and form one union.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>While this might be noble, they might have different founding ideologies and principles, but we also believe that a request for a united fight for the uplifting of student welfare is not asking for too much from the two bodies if their cause is real.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We believe that with a united spirit, the rivalry between the two bodies will be a thing of the past hence female students who are usually vulnerable in hostile environments will start actively participating in student leadership without fear of being fingered in the nasty fights between ZICOSU and ZINASU.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-91384244416672647772014-05-13T03:24:00.003-07:002014-05-13T03:24:57.859-07:00MDGs and Post 2015 Development Agenda: Gender equality still a priority <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As the sun rises, so does the lapsing of time. So is the time-frame of the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which are supposed to be achieved by 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>In Zimbabwe, the dare which is the highest decision making body is still a preserve for the males. At national level, the equivalent of such is the cabinet and parliament. With such institutions still dominated by men the decisions made in most cases are biased towards males. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">MDG number 3 aims to promote gender equity and to empower women by 2015. In Zimbabwe however, women are often being excluded in many decision making processes. Despite the fact that a number of many women organisations have been formed, women are still under represented in many aspects of leadership. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Women are largely involved productive work such as farming and gardening, in order to meet the fundamental needs of their families, but their efforts are not recognised as major contributions to the national development. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Female Students Network (FSN) believes that women should be supported in all facets of life, including in politics as they can contribute more to the development of the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>FSN feels that the first step in assessing the equal participation of women and men in political life is to focus on the issue of increasing the number of women in decision-making positions. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>The largely male dominated cabinet with only three women out of 26 means that women’s voices can hardly be heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There is also need to influence the change of parents’ mind-sets regarding education for both male and female children. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Parents need to accept that children are equal and they should be given equal opportunities in life because with no proper education, the girl child will be less likely to have a say socially and politically and to be able to support themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Another MDG which is a cause of concern is goal number 5, which stipulates the improvement of maternal health as cases of maternal mortality remain high. Female students are also affected by this issue and the situation is worse for colleges located in rural areas. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">According to a research done by the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey, the country’s maternal mortality rate is 960 deaths per 100 000 live births. This is a clear indication of the country’s failure to meet MDG goal number 5.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>In Zimbabwe, most maternal deaths are caused by poverty, lack of education and shortage of primary health care centres especially in marginalized areas such as Binga. Cases of women giving birth on their way to the clinic have been recorded the worst affected. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The shortage of critical staff and poor remuneration are other challenges affecting the country’s quest to meet the MDGs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Scrapping off user fees for pregnant women would be a good development in the country’s mission to meet MDGs because most women, especially in the rural areas end up giving birth at their homes, which is unsafe and prejudicial to their health. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Therefore, the aspect of gender equality and maternal health still remain a priority in the country and should be included in Post 2015 Development Agenda.</span><o:p></o:p></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-31662185566047720762014-05-13T03:12:00.003-07:002014-05-13T03:12:39.655-07:00Female President for JM Nkomo Poly <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Female Students Network celebrates the success of yet another female student who has managed to assume the position of Student Representative Council (SRC) president at Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic College.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Xolile Thwala was voted as president on the 13th of February this year. Xolile contested with 5 males in the primary election and made it to the final election with one male contender. She said she got encouragement from other female students who supported her and she also had confidence that she would win.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>“I felt a bit intimidated after the elections because the guy that I was contesting with wanted a rerun. Nevertheless, I am trying my best to keep focus. I am motivated by the support I am getting from my colleagues,” added Xolile. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gWVS02U4X-A/U3HvomyMYpI/AAAAAAAAAFA/x8EZvfel_Vo/s1600/Xolile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gWVS02U4X-A/U3HvomyMYpI/AAAAAAAAAFA/x8EZvfel_Vo/s1600/Xolile.jpg" height="279" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The proud SRC President Xolile Thwala</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span>&nbsp;</div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">FSN has been to JMN Poly several times, educating female students on the importance of participating in leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The Network also encouraged female students to support each other during SRC elections because female have a tendency of supporting men instead of their female col- leagues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The recent surge of female students getting interested in student leader- ship and let alone making it to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>top positions is a result<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>of recent leadership workshops by FSN.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During these trainings and work- shops, the Network has been conscientising female students on the need for them to shape their destiny by taking up leadership positions. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After attending the workshops most female students feel inspired to join SRCs at their institutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The workshops have been a motivation to female students’ participation in their institutions’ SRCs. FSN views these successes as a great move towards the emancipation of females in the once male dominated areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-40593933112765832212014-05-13T02:41:00.000-07:002014-05-13T02:41:06.481-07:00Cyber-bullying must stop <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A lot female students have been victims of cyber bullying. The advent of technology, though a good move, has been a total hell for some as they are constantly being bullied on these technological devices. But what exactly is cyber bullying? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cyber bullying is the use of information technology to harm or harass other people in a deliberate, repeated and hostile manner. There is a page by the name “Bulawayo Hot Babes” where Facebook pictures of girls are posted without their consent. </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The admin would then pose a question such as “how many cows can you pay for my lobola because I am very beautiful and I know it”. People would then start to comment, saying nasty, degrading statements that are inhumane and embarrassing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The worst part of it is that they will be using your name and pictures without your consent. There are other “confession pages” such as such as NUST Confessions, UZ and MSU confessions where students are being openly humiliated by anonymous posts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The post clearly state people’s names, their degree programme and which year they are in. they then write whatever degrading and embarrassing stuff they fell like writing” she said. Cyber bullying can have devastating consequences, suicide being of them.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">&nbsp;</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Another common form of cyber bullying among teens is the sending of threats usually implying that physical violence will be used.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are no statistics on cyber bullying in Zimbabwe because most cases go unreported. But in other countries like in the USA there are documented cases of teens committing suicide after particularly bad cyber-attacks .</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In Zimbabwe it is illegal to send obscene and threatening messages using any form of communication.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As Female Students Network, we condemn such behaviour and encourage all women, members or non-members of FSN to desist from embarrassing each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"> </div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-91280959244408909102014-03-07T02:50:00.001-08:002014-03-07T02:50:31.936-08:00 <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">FSN denounces female students’ abuse<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Female Student Network (FSN) has learnt with utter shock the rape of a student at a Vocational Training Centre in the Midlands province. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The 19 year old student was intoxicated and allegedly gang raped by fellow students at the Vocational Training on Sunday. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">According to police reports it is alleged that three male students drugged her and them took turns to rape her until she fell unconscious. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She was later found on the soccer pitch naked and unconscious by college authorities and rushed to Gweru provincial hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Network condemns such inhumane acts against female students. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>As an organisation which advocates for females rights it was really devastating news that this lady was robbed of her sexuality hence her right. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Network also wishes to warn female students to be careful of taking spiked drinks as cases of such are on the increase. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ph6WiHjXh3A/UxmkXRtZNpI/AAAAAAAAAEo/OTpTr4vEvbE/s1600/rape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ph6WiHjXh3A/UxmkXRtZNpI/AAAAAAAAAEo/OTpTr4vEvbE/s1600/rape.jpg" height="175" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span>&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-52684331118855271772014-02-26T07:00:00.000-08:002014-02-26T07:00:27.469-08:00<br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Cambria&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;">Empower one woman, empower the whole nation<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span>by Thando Gwinji (Solusi University)<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Cambria&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;">Female Students Network can be seen from afar as just an organization doing a few programs to empower female students in tertiary institutions but from deep within they are doing more than that, they are actually reaching out to the whole world. This is a testimony from a female student by the name of Thando Gwinji from Solusi University in Bulawayo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Cambria&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;">I first encountered FSN in 2011 when I was a 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> year student doing Peace in Conflict Studies and at that time I was the president of the Peace Club and I attended FSN workshops so that I can further my leadership skills. Well I got more than that, through constantly attending these workshops I got exposure to a wider range of skills, I developed self-confidence, self-awareness and open-mindedness. Above all I got a platform to express myself and my passion in life through constantly interacting with the organization. Through the FSN blog I advanced my writing skills and created awareness on issues affecting me and other female students around Bulawayo. Opportunities then started to build up because my voice was being heard and because of the training that I had received I was bold enough to take them on. In a word or two I can say that I was empowered to be a bigger person than I was before.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sgOhBD8wEoo/Uw3_8Re3n2I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/6x43wZO-1PM/s1600/Thando+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sgOhBD8wEoo/Uw3_8Re3n2I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/6x43wZO-1PM/s1600/Thando+2.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Cambria&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span>&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Cambria&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;">The Pull Her Down (PHD) syndrome is a very common phenomenon amongst ladies who want to escalate to high positions, FSN however modelled the Push Her Up (PHU) very well. Being just a female student I got the chance to go and represent not just FSN but Zimbabwe and Africa at large at the Study of the United States Institute for Civic engagement (SUSI) through FSN. In this 2014 SUSI program, there were 20 participants representing the SADC region. Of the 5 weeks that I spent in America, 3 weeks were at the University of Nebraska where I was studying leadership, democracy, civic engagement, and human rights with top-notch professors and at the end of the training I was awarded with a certificate of recognition for outstanding academic achievement and leadership skills. Even before the completion of the course I was living the American dream, and so many doors seem to be opening up. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4vQz2cODMaY/Uw36wRRloEI/AAAAAAAAAEA/eRLhnvSJZmI/s1600/thando+1.jpg" /></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Cambria&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Cambria&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;">However, it is not what I achieved that is of essence, it is what I am going to do with what I achieved that matters. The least that I can do is give back to the society, though I don’t have much to give, I believe that the little the effort that I give goes a long way, I will begin by sharing the little knowledge that I have accumulated. I have grown to believe that information dissemination is the first step towards empowerment and anyone can do it. For every young lady out there know that you are also an agent of social change and powerful beyond measure. In my stay in America, I wasn’t only gaining knowledge but I was teaching Americans about Africa as well and I came to appreciate where I come from more. Looking at Africa from a different angle, I could see that we have a lot of potential but we also have a lack of will power and that will power begins with young people who strive to make a difference. Female Students Network is making a difference but it is up to us young ladies to embrace those efforts and be agents of social change. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jnvuMCJf2zE/Uw4ALOn3CkI/AAAAAAAAAEY/UFiHU2szLoM/s1600/thando+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jnvuMCJf2zE/Uw4ALOn3CkI/AAAAAAAAAEY/UFiHU2szLoM/s1600/thando+3.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></span></div><br /></div></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Cambria&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span>&nbsp;</div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-78615978814302317352014-02-26T06:15:00.000-08:002014-02-26T06:15:49.003-08:00 <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s time to stand up for our rights<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Yunah Bvumbe (Harare Polytechnic College)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Women have often been deluged with suggestions about ways to become more powerful in relation to men; however the differences in men’s and women’s access to use of power continually subvert the whole essence of gender equality.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many of us seek friendship or colleagueship with members of the other sex often to find out that the equality supposed in these relationship is constantly challenged by learned sex role patterns of dominance and submission.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is from this background that as a nation, we cannot continue to articulate about gender equality when men continue to dominate in society at our own peril.<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Zimbabwe having been championed for being part of those nations that endorsed the SADC<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Protocol on Gender and Development in 2008 which requires that ‘’states parties shall endeavour that by 2015, at least 50 percent of decision –making positions in the public and private sectors are held by women’’. The participation of women has not been very impressive and it raises alarm on whether Zimbabwe will be able to ensure 50-50 representation of men and women in politics.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In politics and economics when most people think<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>of a president ,prime minister ,chairman of the board ,they think of a man despite the fact that women can and do hold these positions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And in the realm of expertise, female journalists, doctors lawyers are still trusted less than their male counterparts by many people and are not even acknowledged to exist by many others .<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps only in the realm of power based on attractiveness, charisma and personal magnetism do women power images compete with male ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Besides the act that females are more intelligent than their male counterparts, their power is being misconstrued as men perceive women need affection and safety and nothing else.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Therefore the predicament of ambitious women is that they end up being lonely and bitter as the feeling of abandonment for their brave stance gains momentum.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In this male dominated society, women’s only effective source of influence is beauty and sex appeal as they are being used in advertising products naked to speed up sales.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But then one wonders, is this why women have been heralding for their emancipation only to be used as sexual objects?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the time to change our mindset and not betray those who have fought for us to be emancipated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 153.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 153.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-35036491495929539412013-12-10T00:42:00.004-08:002013-12-10T00:42:52.826-08:00 <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let our voices be heard: International Human Rights Day-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">FSN joins the rest of the world in commemorating International Day of Human Rights 2013.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></b></div><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Female Students Network joins the rest of the world in celebrating the International Human Rights Day. Human Rights Day promotes awareness of human rights issues around the world and it helps to buttress the point that everybody has the right to have their voice heard and to have a role in making the decisions that shape their lives and their communities.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">FSN will continue to educate and share with female students about their rights, which include the right to participate fully in the important decisions and policies affecting their lives.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That means not only the democratic processes, but also the key economic decisions that can have such a huge impact on individuals, families, and even entire groups and nations.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For female students, the right to accommodation is very important because some of the end up engaging in immoral activities just to get money for proper and decent accommodation. The Network therefore urges the government to bring back grant so that students can be able to fend for themselves just like they did when the government was still offering the grants. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This will not only benefit the students but the nation as a whole because what good will it bring to have an HIV infested youth<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>who get involved in sexual relationships for food and accommodation, something that can<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>be prevented by the return of students grants. By this the Network is not condoning the immoral behaviour by female students but is trying to find a solution to the problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Female students also have a right health but the unhygienic ways in which they dispose sanitary ware in most tertiary institutions leaves a lot to be desires. There is need therefore for the relevant Ministries such as the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development as well as the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science Technology Development to put measures of hygienic sanitary disposal such as incinerators and disinfectant soaps in toilets. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There is also need to intensify efforts of protecting female students from sexual harassment because most of them are not aware of the Sexual Harassment Policy and the few that know about it are ignorant of its contents.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On this day, the Network would also like to take the opportunity to salutes all those who have suffered so much seeking what is rightfully theirs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The voices of too many women and girls, in particular, continue to be stifled through discrimination, threats and violence and this is holding back progress for women and for all members of society. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">FSN believes that women’s participation is fundamental for sustainable development, peace and democracy and as we commemorate the international human rights day, we should remove the barriers to women’s full and equal participation in the economy, in politics and in all aspects of public life.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-84666579687175568102013-12-03T00:15:00.001-08:002013-12-03T00:15:26.155-08:00 <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s time to act to stop Gender Based Violence<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Female students Network joins the rest of the world in commemorating 16 days of Activism against Gender Based Violence. The 16 days, starting form 25 November to 10 December is way of raising awareness of the scourge that has taken many live throughout the years.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It is also a time to make duty bearers, especially the police to take seriously issues of gender based violence. Of late, female students have complained that they are not being taken seriously when they report cases of abuse to the police. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It is very important to note that Gender Based Violence does not only affect couples in a marriage setting but those who are not yet married too. For female students, a lecturer asking for sexual favours for a pass constitutes gender abused violence. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Gender based violence is still a challenge in the country and has impacted negatively on our society, with consequence such as injuries, unintended pregnancies and HIV/AIDS. <o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">According to reports by Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey(ZDHS) 1 in 4 women had experienced sexual violence and in 9 out of 10 of the cases the perpetrator is the woman’s current or former husband, partner or boyfriend; and 1 in 3 women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence since the age 15. <u><span style="color: #c0504d; font-variant: small-caps; mso-themecolor: accent2;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div><br /><div class="rtejustify" style="margin: 1em 0cm;">Gender based violence had impacted negatively on the Zimbabwean society, with consequences such as injuries, unintended pregnancies and HIV/AIDS.<o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="rtejustify" style="margin: 1em 0cm;">As FSN, we encourage everyone to continue working together to raise awareness that violence against women and girls is unacceptable. Gender based violence is a human rights violation that calls for an integrated and multi-sectorial approach if we are to achieve meaningful results<span class="MsoSubtleReference"><span style="color: windowtext; font-variant: normal !important; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There is need for more campaigns that involve men as they are also victims of gender based violence in some cases and largely the perpetrators of GBV.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Zimbabwe is to be commended for setting the policy framework for gender based violence prevention and response which includes the Domestic Violence Act although there is still need to </span><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">deal decisively with this vicious cycle of violence, as it is destroying families and causing untold suffering to the victims. The human rights abuses against women not only inflict great harm and suffering on individuals but they affect the entire society.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">FSN therefore encourages everyone; regardless of gender to work together to stop gender based violence as it has caused untold suffering in the Zimbabwean community. The Network also encourages everyone to condemn gender based violence and take action against it not only during the 16 days but the whole year because gender based violence affects women, men and children on a daily basis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-22331453471633033312013-10-23T00:41:00.001-07:002013-10-23T01:04:49.338-07:00<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 28pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of religion and female leadership<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><br /><o:p> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The first question that comes to most peoples’ minds when someone speaks about equality is what does the Bible says about it?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Female Students Network has found out that many female students shun leadership because they say the Bible disapproves of women leaders. They say in the Bible, most of the leaders where men, hence being a female leader is going against the Book of Life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Some female students even refuse to support their fellow females on the basis of religion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>They sat the Bible says men are the heads and they interpret this to say men should be the leaders and women should follow. Since men are the heads, they carry the brains which think for the whole body, so they say.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But what exactly does the Bible say about women and leadership? Where does it precisely place women? The Bible says <span style="color: black;">God created the woman as a "helper" for the man:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." (NIV, Genesis 2:18) <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">However, being a "helper" does not imply that the woman was inferior or subservient to the man. In fact, God created both men and women in His own image and made them equal custodians of all his creation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." (Genesis 2:27-28)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WD9lplQ3KpQ/UmeCuFObl9I/AAAAAAAAADw/lSQqZ4MhiV8/s1600/The+Holy+Bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WD9lplQ3KpQ/UmeCuFObl9I/AAAAAAAAADw/lSQqZ4MhiV8/s1600/The+Holy+Bible.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span>&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">Compared to other cultures of the time, Jewish women enjoyed great liberty and esteem, and many women distinguished themselves as prophetesses and leaders in Jewish society. Women such as Deborah, Esther, Hannah, Miriam, Rachel, Rebekah, Ruth and Sarah played important and decisive roles in Israel's history. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">Women in the Bible occasionally held strong positions. Esther, for example was put in a position where her influence could help Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">Women often held influential positions in the Bible. Deborah was a great prophetess who was also a leader in Israel (Judges 4: 1- 5:31).<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 177.75pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Modern times have seen several outstanding female national leaders, including Israel’s Golda Meir, who successfully ruled Israel from 1969 to 1974. Since we know that God ordains all leadership—“For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">” (</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%2013.1" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Romans 13:1</span></a></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">)<span style="color: black;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">Generally speaking, God designed men for positions of leadership but apart from leadership in the church and family, which is given to men alone, the Bible doesn’t expressly forbid women to participate in other positions of leadership. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">As evidence of the equality of men and women, the Ten Commandments require children to honour both their father and mother:<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">"Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. ( Exodus 20:12)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">God created both men and women in His own image and made them equal custodians of all His creation. But, because of their disobedience, God punished Adam and Eve and evicted them from the Garden of Eden. Eve's punishment was to suffer pain in childbirth and be ruled over by her husband. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">Jesus broke with tradition and treated women in a much more egalitarian way than was normal in the society of that time. The early Christian churches followed Jesus' lead and gave women much higher status and more privileges than was common in the rest of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">Christians disagree over whether this principle should apply in the modern world. Is the man's authority over his wife and family a great spiritual principle decreed by God for all time, or is it, like the Bible's teachings about slavery, just a reflection of the realities of Biblical-era culture? <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;">Today, many Christians believe women should enjoy all the same rights and privileges as men. Other Christians, however, continue to advocate a secondary role for women based specific Bible passages<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The men is not said to be the leader but the head of the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In an organisation, institution or a country, a woman can also be a leader.<o:p></o:p></span></div></o:p>&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZW;"><o:p></o:p></span>&nbsp;</div><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-61347938494339487592013-10-23T00:34:00.000-07:002013-10-23T00:34:03.666-07:00 <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 115%;">Congratulations Female Students!</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 26pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><br /> <br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Female Students Network (FSN) would like to congratulate most of the Network’s members who graduated with Diplomas and Degrees in various categories.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The past few years have not been rosy for many students, who faced hardships ranging from paying tuition fees to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Female students have been having difficulties on the issues of accommodation. Some of them revealed female students that they had to share a room with 3 or 4 others while paying an amount of $50-$60 per head per month.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Chiedza Chiwetu, who graduated with a Bsc Honours Degree in Psychology, said she has <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>managed to finish her degree despite the many obstacles she faced at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ).She stated that<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Being a single mother and a student was not easy but through the support of my family and the strength from Almighty God it was possible. FSN has also supported me all the way throughout my Degree they have moulded me into the woman that I am that knows her value and her vision as a woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Another FSN member, Daylite Marufu a former student at Belvedere Technical Teachers’ College says owes her success to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“My inspiration comes from God, I always prayed during my years at college and I believe God is the one who made me survive through all the hardships that I failed, “she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Daylite also attributed her success to the teachings she got from FSN.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I would like to thank FSN for their moral support. The Network taught me to value myself as a woman and not let taken advantage of by men. I took this advice seriously and I will forever be grateful for it,” she added.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_J8cPAUFIw/Umd6ItAPbJI/AAAAAAAAADQ/_BTBgkljeBA/s1600/IMG_2444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_J8cPAUFIw/Umd6ItAPbJI/AAAAAAAAADQ/_BTBgkljeBA/s320/IMG_2444.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">FSN is sure that&nbsp;their efforts were worth it all and that their achievements will make a positive difference in their career paths.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--fG3arXW73Y/Umd64GFwuFI/AAAAAAAAADY/1XnSEC7nf8g/s1600/daylite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--fG3arXW73Y/Umd64GFwuFI/AAAAAAAAADY/1XnSEC7nf8g/s320/daylite.jpg" width="240" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong>Daylite Shumba –Diploma in Teaching&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></strong></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </div><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">&nbsp;</div><o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b>&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"> </div></o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">&nbsp;</div></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">&nbsp;</div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-25338035923467719762013-09-30T07:17:00.001-07:002013-09-30T07:17:06.814-07:00 <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZW; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Police disrupt FSN workshop in Masvingo</span><br /><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZW; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">FSN in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) carries out Global Political Agreement (GPA) debates with students as well as community members.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The aim of the workshops is to evaluate the GPA and to also discuss about female students participating in national processes such as the recently held elections and the constitution making process.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Network has been working with female students for three years and it is authorised by the deans of students who view the Networks’ workshops as extra curricula activities. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On Friday the 20<sup>th</sup> of September, FSN held a workshop in Masvingo with Masvingo Polytechnic female students on Friday the 20<sup>th</sup> of September 2013. Female students who attended the workshop were from Masvingo Teachers’’ College, Mogenster Teachers’ College and Great Zimbabwe University. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">FSN usually works with local organisations during such activities. The Network had invited a representative from Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD), a Masvingo based organisation, to give a presentation during the workshop<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">At around 15 00hrs, the workshop was disrupted by the police who had been tipped off by Zimbabwe Congress of Students’ Union (ZICOSU) members that there was a former Zimbabwe National Students’ Union (ZINASU) member. The ZICOSU members had called the police purporting to be the Dean of Students. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The police thought the ZINASU member was working with FSN and the clash led to police accusing the FSN Director for not notifying the police about the workshop. They then arrested FSN Director Evernice Munando together with four other presenters. The Masvingo Polytechnic Dean of Students then called the police and explained to them that he had authorised FSN to work with female students from his institution. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The police who had sat in the community workshop the previous day also testified that FSN was apolitical and had carried out a peaceful, non-partisan workshop with community members. Ms. Munando was then released at around 18.00hrs after thorough questioning and interrogation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Female students who had attendee the debate were left in great fear as they had never encountered such incidents during FSN workshops before.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">FSN condemns unruly behaviour conducted by the students’ organisations as it tarnishes the image of the Network.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In as much as FSN partners with student organisations, the Network wishes to disassociate itself with rowdy activities carried out by these movements. FSN would also like to apologise for any inconvenience this incident might have or is likely to cause to our partners and stakeholders.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-44153454634522838662013-09-30T07:12:00.002-07:002013-09-30T07:12:43.757-07:00 <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Female students on the move<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After a series of leadership seminars and workshops, female students are now participating actively at their institutions SRC and even occupying top positions that were usually taken by males. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">At Mutare teachers’ College for example, female students managed to assume all top positions, including that of President and Secretary General. At Solusi University, five female students also took part in the recently held SRC elections and four of them succeeded to win.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The workshops have managed to boost female students’ confidence to participate in leadership because students open up to the Network about factors blocking them from getting into leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Thembelihle Zulu, a second year Journalism and Media Studies student at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) who is running for the post of president at the institution promises real solutions to the problems that are being faced by her fellow students. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2ZrUQHJNk0/UkmGeYBWwoI/AAAAAAAAADA/mR3sJGaIP_s/s1600/Thembelihle+Zulu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2ZrUQHJNk0/UkmGeYBWwoI/AAAAAAAAADA/mR3sJGaIP_s/s1600/Thembelihle+Zulu.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The aspiring NUST president Thembelihle Zulu</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>On her manifesto, Thembelihle touches on many issues that affect students in modern day Zimbabwe. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Many of us struggle to pay our fees. This situation has plagued many but today I bring hope. I am currently in talks with numerous local companies in order to set up the NUST fund. This is going to be a fund that assists in paying fees for students who find themselves in arrears particularly those in the final year so that they may graduate and get their certificates. This fund will be administrated by the S.R.C,” reads part of her manifesto.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The aspiring SRC president further promises that she will make life easier for her fellow colleagues of she is voted for.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Many students struggle to get attachment places because they might not know here to look. This is usually stressful period for part 3s. In order to ease their burden I have already talked and secured a deal with numerous employment agencies in and around Bulawayo. The agencies will inform the S.R.C of the available positions in different companies and all these shall be posted in the SRC website that I will set up when she gets into office. This is definitely going to go a long way in helping parts 3s get attachment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Female students have been shunning leadership positions, citing factors such lack of knowledge and lack of support from other female students, but it seems they are now geared up to assume leadership posts with the knowledge, skills capacity and encouragement they got from Female Students Network.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-28896761104757433512013-09-30T07:07:00.001-07:002013-09-30T07:07:11.514-07:00 <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tribalism in Matabeleland impedes female students’ participation in leadership<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Female students have sited challenges that affect their participation in leadership, but who would have ever thought that tribalism could be one of them!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Shocking revelations of tribalism in Matabeleland tertiary institutions have emerged during Leadership Sensitisation workshops carried out by Female Students Network (FSN), with the support of Students and Academics International Help Fund (SAIH).<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Female students at Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic College say the situation has dampened their participatory attitude and made them shy away from getting into leadership positions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Gwanda is a predominantly Ndebele area mixed with Suthu. However, most students who learn at JM Poly come from as far as Masvingo and Chinhoyi in Mashonaland province and cannot speak a single word in the local Ndebele language.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bfOaGlvgDgU/UkmFftNe0xI/AAAAAAAAAC0/eTPiC69Hl-A/s1600/SAM_1437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bfOaGlvgDgU/UkmFftNe0xI/AAAAAAAAAC0/eTPiC69Hl-A/s1600/SAM_1437.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The female students said that they would feel like they are getting way too ahead of themselves if they contest for leadership positions in a foreign province where they are discriminated against.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There is also a general belief that the Shona tribe wants to dominate the Ndebele, hence the hostility.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A female student from Bulawayo Polytechnic College said “Sometimes you will be talking to friends that you want to contest in the elections and they will ask why you want to always dominate? Can’t you go and lead where you come from? They say it as a joke but you really see that they mean it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There are a lot of tribalism incidences at the college, with some female students claiming that they are made to feel as if they do not belong because they cannot speak Ndebele.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Another female student from JM Polytechnic College said “During lectures, some Ndebele lecturers will say something in Ndebele and other Ndebele students will laugh and he will say he is not going to repeat the statement and that Shona students should learn to speak Ndebele. I for one would love to speak Ndebele but because of this discrimination I am no longer interested in Ndebele,” showing that lecturers are also perpetuating the homophobic attitude.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There are more Shona speaking students in Matabeleland than Ndebele because, according to researches, Ndebeles leave for South Africa (eGoli) to seek for employment immediately after school or even before finishing ordinary level.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Ndebele people originally come from South Africa and they feel they are more at home down south as they are a product of South Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Another issue is that of the Gukurahundi (destructive cyclone), that left thousands of Ndebeles dead in the 1980s. It seems some Ndebeles never forgave the Shona for that even after their leader; Joshua Nkomo had signed a Unity Accord with Presidents Robert Mugabe. The hatred and division also seem to be moving from generation to generation because most female students were not even born at that time but they are very emotional about the sensitive issue.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">FSN conversely encouraged the female students to unite so that they may fight together the patriarchy that exist in the African society, starting at institutional level upwards.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></span></u></i></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-25301701091964699282013-09-18T02:57:00.001-07:002013-09-18T02:57:12.144-07:00<h2> </h2><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: purple;">Regai nditore uno mukana kutenda Female Students Network<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2><span style="color: purple;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Poem by Rumbidzai Mashasha<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic College<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Mauya mukamutsa njere dzedu <o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Takanga tirere mumagudza chaimo<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Taizviziva rini kuti takakosha<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Aiwa zvaitwa FSN.<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Kuti mukadzi ati pamusoroi<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Zvanzi uri hure<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Kuti ati bufu<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Zvanzi wakadii ukadai<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Chokwadi akuruma nzeve ndewako<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Nhasi ndazvionera pamhino sefodya<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Aiwa matendwa FSN.<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Vakadzi ngavae pasi pevarume vavo<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Ndiwoka mutemo watinozvwiudza<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Ini ndakashata, ini handina basa<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Hutungamiri hwobva hwaenda kumadzibaba<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Aiwa nhasi ndapa kutenda<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Aiwa regai nditore uno mukana kutenda FSN.<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Ndatishandisei kodzero dzedu<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Sevanhukadzi, tive nhungamiriri dzamangwana<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Godo, ngatibvise, nyadzi kure<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Iva iwe pachako uve mutungamirir nhasi<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Hezvo tapiwa FSN kutipa gwara.<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Ko inga Doc (Principal) tinavo, ko Mother (Dean of Students) vatinodya navo mudiro zuva nezuva<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Zvazvinongova pachena wani<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Chiri mumusakasaka chinozvinzwira<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Saka ngatiitei kunzwa nekuita<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Sezvo tavapiwa tete vedu FSN<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Aiwa maita zvenyu nokutitsika kwenyu.<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B2U4Xs8zpuA/Ujl4eN8eqLI/AAAAAAAAACk/S_94_Iftbq4/s1600/SAM_1475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B2U4Xs8zpuA/Ujl4eN8eqLI/AAAAAAAAACk/S_94_Iftbq4/s320/SAM_1475.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rumbidzai Mashasha<br />&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-26272853871192584652013-08-23T04:01:00.000-07:002013-08-23T04:01:23.438-07:00 <br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: purple;">First time voter: A personal experience<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The first time for everything is always a memorable experience. Most female students around the country cast their votes for the first time in the 31<sup>st</sup> of July this year. Female students have described the experience as extremely amazing. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here is how Mildred Chamboko, a first time voter female student voter describes the experience:<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As I woke up in the in the wee hours of the morning of the 31<sup>st</sup> of July, I could feel that it was a defining moment in my life. I am usually very lazy to get out of bed especially if it’s cold, but on that day, I woke up at exactly 5 am. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Because I was so eager to do it for the first time, I shrugged off the cold weather, brushed my teeth, grabbed my Identity Card and registration slip and together with my brother, who was also a first timer, went out to exercise our right.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I did not even eat my breakfast because I wanted to be the first person to cast a vote at Warren Park Primary School. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>To my surprise, over a hundred people were already standing in the queue! We decided to go and check the other polling station which was at Warren Park 1 High School. The queue was much better and we decided to join it. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Although at first the queue was moving at a tortoise pace, we waited patiently for our turn. I witnessed some “special citizens” such as the elderly and pregnant women, mothers who had brought their and the disabled being made to jump the queue, but I still waited tolerantly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I then decided to go back home for a while and eat my breakfast because my stomach was now grumbling yet there were still about seventy people in front of me. I was constantly communicating with my brother to find out how close we now were because I wanted to make sure I did not miss my first time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I then went back to the polling station, and as I entered the classroom where people were voting, I was asked for my ID and registration slip for back up. They check my finger to see if I had not voted anywhere else.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>All this time my heart was pounding heavily because I was thinking: What is my name is not found in the voters ‘roll and what if there is an error in on the registration slip, what if I will not be able to vote?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I let out a big sigh of relief when my name was found on the voter’s roll. I was then given three ballot papers, I felt excited that I was going to cast my vote. I then dipped my little pinkie finger into the pink ink, and went behind the ballot box. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I never felt so important in my whole life as I put an “X” on my favourite candidates. It was&nbsp;a moment of glory and I can’t help but recall it over and over again. When I was done, I folded the papers and put them in the appropriate boxes. As I went out of the classroom I felt like I could fly with pride. I had finally exercised my right as a citizen. Thanks to Female Students Network for they encouraged not me only but hundred other female students to vote. It was a magnificent experience and it felt so good. It is also a wonderful thought that my vote was counted. ***********************<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile other female students who also voted in the recent elections also described the experience as marvellous. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“My first time was so good. I felt like I was special. Standing in that little box all by self and putting in X on my favourite candidate was an out of this world experience. I really felt I like an important citizen exercising her right, “said Buhle Mambo, a second year Development studies student at the Midlands State University. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Another female student Olivia Moyo from Great Zimbabwe University said” I was just thrilled to have to be part of the voting process. I felt really good because you know you have the power to shape your destiny by voting for the person you think will provide solutions for the country. I don’t know why I did not register to vote in 2008. It was an awesome experience.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div>FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734435602340679984.post-54265168920827035842013-08-01T03:19:00.001-07:002013-08-01T03:19:41.898-07:00<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZW; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent4;"><strong>Female students eager to cast their vote</strong></span><br /><span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 26pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZW; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent4;"></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The 31<sup>st</sup> of July is the D-day for many female student virgin voters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Most female students registered in the ended mobile registration exercise and are enthusiastic to cast their vote.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For 27 year old Isabel Phiri* growing up in a relatively harsh environment where she had to be labelled a “brandaya”, a term for people who are of the Malawian origin, she had to face the reality that indeed she was not considered a Zimbabwean.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>In 2008 when she tried to cast her ballot at the age of 22, Isabel tried to cast her first vote but alas, the screaming letters written “alien” on her identification certificate was her draw back<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She was told that she could not exercise her right to vote simply because her parents were foreigners. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Five years down the line, Isabel was given a new lease of life when Zimbabwe ushered in the new constitution. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Not only is Isabel a born free but also an alien allowed to make a decision in the political dispensation, thanks to the new supreme law of the land. She only had to fill an affidavit and was allowed to register as a voter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A female student at Lupane State University said she tried to register in 2008 as a voter at the age of 23, but was frustrated by the process of proof of residence and hence failed to register. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This time around, she is determined to exercise her right to vote since she is now a registered voter and to make a change in her life by voting for the party of her choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Another female student at Africa University said she was motivated by the desire to bring in the change she wants as a young woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I was keen to go and register this time because I want to be able to shape my future by choosing people who can make a change in my life. I also believe that as young women we should all go and vote to decide our future. I feel excited that I exercised my right and my vote will count in building up a great nation,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This year youth are itching to make their voices count in the upcoming elections. According to a survey done by Mass Public Opinion Institute,<span class="null"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span class="dateline"><span style="color: black;">in which 1,008 youths drawn from all the country’s provinces were sampled shows that 64 per cent of the respondents are looking forward to vote in the harmonised elections with 50 per cent already on the voters’ roll. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><br /><span class="dateline">&nbsp;</span><br /><span class="dateline">The survey, conducted between 19 and 28 January this year, shows that Mashonaland Central had the highest number of registered youths, at 70 per cent, followed by Masvingo at 57 per cent. Bulawayo is the lowest at 19 per cent.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="dateline"><span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span class="dateline"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="dateline"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The survey was meant to gauge youth participation in the country’s political process. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="dateline"><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Female Students Network has been encouraging female students to be involved in national processes such as voting, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>judging by the number of first time female students potential voters, the Network has done a great job in its endeavour<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>to enhance capacities of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>female students to actively participate in national processes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A total of at least one hundred and thirty female students have registered to vote in the upcoming harmonised elections, with the encouragement of FSN.<o:p></o:p></span></div>* not her real name.FEMALE STUDENTS NETWORKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13995325236764432624noreply@blogger.com0